28 Cooks's Tealog28 Cooks's tealog on Steepsterhttp://steepster.com/
Samurai Chai Maté from TeavanaI picked a few ounces of this up at my local Teavana store last weekend as I love both chai and mate teas. I decided to give it a try this morning.
To begin with, the scent of the dried mixture is amazing. I loved the spicy aroma. Even the tea steeping was quite intoxicating.
I used just a touch of rock sugar and a bit of coconut milk creamer. The first few sips were quite delicious, but I must admit that the clove and cinnamon almost became overwhelming for me. Eventually, that was all I could taste and they were quite overpowering.
I will give it another try, because the initial flavors were so good, so we'll see.
I did use only 1 tsp instead of the recommended 1 1/2. I'm glad, because I think 1 1/2 tsp would have been very overwhelming.Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:47:33 -0400/teas/Samurai%20Chai%20Mat%C3%A9/590-samurai-chai-mate?note=164211
Wonderberry Chocolate Truffle Oolong Tea from TeavanaI had such high hopes for this tea. I was intrigued by the Chocolate Truffle so in my last trip to Teavana, I picked up a few ounces.
The smell of the dried tea is intoxicating! There are definite chocolate and berry notes, so I was quite excited to brew it this morning.
Unfortunately, that's where the chocolate ends. I definitely taste the oolong and the berry, but that's about it. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:13:38 -0400/teas/Wonderberry%20Chocolate%20Truffle%20Oolong%20Tea/30598-wonderberry-chocolate-truffle-oolong-tea?note=164411
Zingiber Ginger Coconut from TeavanaThis just might be my favorite Teavana offering so far. I had high hopes for this tea, given the intoxicating aroma from the dried mixture, and thankfully it delivered in flavor.
There is a definite amaretto flavor with a touch of cardamom and coconut. I enjoyed it this morning with a touch of coconut milk creamer and rock sugar.
I will definitely be picking up more of this wonderful tea.Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:12:06 -0400/teas/Zingiber%20Ginger%20Coconut/1760-zingiber-ginger-coconut?note=164602
Sweet Fruit Garden from TeavanaFri, 22 Mar 2013 09:52:35 -0400/teas/Sweet%20Fruit%20Garden/4215-sweet-fruit-garden?note=164617
Sweet Fruit Garden from TeavanaI was pleasantly surprised by this tea. What drew me to pick some up at Teavana was the addition of hibiscus. Since my time living in Guatemala, where I was obsessed with Jamaica tea, I will try almost anything with hibiscus in it.
The flavor is quite tasty. It has a nice tart and sour flavor to it, which is wonderful when iced. I was also pleased that it wasn't overly sweet or too fruity, as some of the Teavana fruit tea blends can be. I have yet to try it hot, but I can definitely see this being a wonderful addition to my cold tea rotation.Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:53:19 -0400/teas/Sweet%20Fruit%20Garden/4215-sweet-fruit-garden?note=164619
Cantaloupe and Cream from Butiki TeasWow. Seriously.
I received my first order from Butiki Teas on Friday, and I couldn't wait to give this one a try.
First off, the dry loose tea smells absolutely intoxicating. There is no fake cantaloupe flavor at all- only a true fruit smell. I promptly brewed up some this morning and was amazed. Not only is it a gorgeous tea while it's steeping, but it smells fantastic.
And the flavor? Incredible. Again, I kept expecting a fake fruit flavor, but there was only a true cantaloupe taste. And I'm not even a huge fan of cantaloupe, but I loved it. There's also a creaminess that's hard to describe - definite vanilla notes though that really enhance the melon flavor. Finally, there is a slight "leafy" taste to the tea that adds a natural edge to it. It's amazing how layered the flavors are in this tea.
This was my first try of a Butiki tea and I can't wait for moroe!!Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:25:57 -0400/teas/Cantaloupe%20and%20Cream/22253-cantaloupe-and-cream?note=165161
Lemon Chiffon from Della Terra TeasSo I received my first Della Terra order yesterday and promptly ripped it open. This was the first tea I smelled and I knew that it would also be the first I tried.
Absolutely amazing. It's almost hard to describe the layers of flavors. I swear you can actually taste a pastry crust, followed by a warm lemon flavor. Sometimes with lemon teas, all you taste is that harsh citrus. This is not that guy. The lemon is subtle and creamy and delicious.
This will definitely find its way into my cup rather frequently, so I guess I should order more immediately.Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:03:54 -0400/teas/Lemon%20Chiffon/29589-lemon-chiffon?note=165354
Zingiber Ginger Coconut from TeavanaGave this another try this morning. I still think it just might be my favorite morning tea. THe almond nutiness with the hints of coconut and cardamom are fantastic.
I enjoy it most with a touch of coconut milk creamer and a bit of rock sugar.Wed, 27 Mar 2013 08:05:08 -0400/teas/Zingiber%20Ginger%20Coconut/1760-zingiber-ginger-coconut?note=165582
Pineapple Kona Pop! from TeavanaFor some reason, I really didn't want to like this tea. Maybe it's because it was one of the samples that they were peddling, perhaps it's because of its almost juvenile name - either way, I had hoped I wouldn't like it as much as I do.
But I really do like it. Although it's on the sweeter side, this is a tea that I enjoy quite frequently. I love it iced, and it's been that perfect little cup to kill the midday slump at work. I'll brew it in my Bodum travel french press and then pour it over ice - it's quite delicious!Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:56:38 -0400/teas/Pineapple%20Kona%20Pop!/16036-pineapple-kona-pop?note=165862